Thai Horror Comedy Pee Mak Gets an International Trailer

Director Banjong Pisanthanakun is responsible for putting together a number of quality motion pictures over the past few years. In addition to the “Phobia” films, the filmmaker crafted the genuinely creepy 2004 horror outing “Shutter.” Considering the latter is one of my favorite horror films, I’m always excited to see what Banjong does next.

Enter “Pee Mak,” a horror/comedy that really doesn’t sound all that funny on paper. In fact, the international trailer embedded below isn’t altogether hilarious. However, I’ve been told the movie is supposed to have comedic elements, so I’m going to take these folks at their word.

Here’s a ridiculously long synopsis:

During the beginning of the Rattanakosin Dynasty, many Thai men were drafted to serve in the war. “Pee Mak” or “Mak” (Mario Maurer) was no exception and had to leave his pregnant wife to join the fight. While at war, he met, saved, and formed a close bond with four fellow soldiers: “Ter” (Freud-Nattapong Chartpong), “Puak” (Pongsathorn Jongwilas), “Shin” (Auttarut Kongrasri), and “Aey” (Kantapat Permpoonpatcharasook) — (The 4 main cast from Phobia 2 Episode “In The End”)

Once the war was over, Mak invited his four best friends to visit his home at a town called Phra Khanong. When they arrived to Phra Khanong, Mak introduced them to his beautiful wife “Nak” (Davika Hoorne) and “Dang” his newborn baby boy. Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey decided to stay in Phra Khanong for a while and moved into the old house across from Mak’s house.

Despite having met Nak and Dang, a village rumor was going around that Nak had died giving birth to her stillborn baby, Dang.

It turns out that Auntie Priak, owner of the local liquor shop, was the source of the town rumor. This was completely absurd to Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey. The four friends refused to believe this to be true and were determined to prove the rumors wrong.

Aunty Priak was found dead a few days later, her body floating along the river. Up until this point Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey had never considered the possibility that Nak and her baby could be dead and now lingered on as haunting ghosts.

Initially, the four friends didn’t dare tell Mak about their suspicions because they were afraid that they would end up just like Aunty Priak. It didn’t take long before their conscience caught up with them and they realized they owed Mak the truth since he had once saved all of their lives. Now they must risk their own lives to somehow convey to Mak that the living and dead shouldn’t coexist together.

In the end, it will be up to Pee Mak to choose between love and reality.

Are you still with me? Splendid! You can find the trailer for Banjong Pisanthanakun’s “Pee Mak” below. I have no idea when this thing will land Stateside, though I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as something comes my way.